Families around the world, get ready to put on your comfy clothes and snuggle up with a good book, because Sunday, March 19, is International Read to Me Day.
The worldwide literacy development campaign is sandwiched between February’s World Read Aloud Day, supported by nonprofit LitWorld and sponsored by Scholastic, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO’s) International Literacy Day, officially recognized on Sept. 8. Each is a large-scale initiative that aims to reduce global illiteracy and promote empowering learning environments for developing children.
Since relaunching the campaign in 2021, International Read to Me Day has become a year-round, 24/7 effort to provide reading opportunities and physical books to the global community. The organization assembles groups of volunteer “Reading Champions” who help in its mission to read to 1 million children each year.
Early access to language and reading is crucial to childhood development and the development of later literacy. Nationwide, a significant decline in 2022 reading scores on NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) tests speaks to a need for broad and equitable access to literacy support.
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“Literacy is a key component of the fundamental right to education and a critical foundation for independent learning,” UNESCO wrote in its 2022 International Literacy Day paper. “Literacy and numeracy have to play an essential role in building more peaceful, just, inclusive, and sustainable societies and in addressing global challenges.”
Digital resources can help bridge gaps in access and support families and educators alike in building a strong literacy foundation for readers at all levels. Mashable’s rounded up several online resources to help foster enthusiasm for reading through interactive reading opportunities and comprehension skills, including free read-along videos, at-home lessons, and other ways to read aloud with your child.
PBS
A leader in free educational content for the public, PBS is a one-stop shop for literacy resources for educators, parents, and kids.
Reading Rainbow
Millennials probably remember Reading Rainbow, the PBS original hosted by Levar Burton that brought interactive stories to the screen for families around the country. You can still find original episodes of the show online, as well as accompanying reading and literacy activities.
It’s also streaming on Amazon Prime.
PBS KIDS YouTube
PBS KIDS posts free episodes of shows including reading-focused SUPER WHY! (catch them airing live all day long) and read-along videos on its YouTube page, as well.
LearningMedia
The main page for PBS learning resources is LearningMedia, which publishes free resources for educators across all K-12 subjects, including Social Studies, English Language Arts, and the Arts. You’ll find educational videos, interactive lessons and lesson plans, and other multimedia activities.
Head to the English Language Arts and Literacy page for foundational lessons on phonics, sentence construction, and reading comprehension. The Literature page hosts a collection of videos, plot summaries, and excerpts to practice spotting main ideas, character studies, and literary techniques.
PBS KIDS for Parents
PBS KIDS’ parent-oriented web page publishes activities and learning advice for building strong readership in kids ages 2-8 years old. The page also directs caregivers to resources tied to PBS shows that focus on building a strong vocabulary and literacy foundation, like the generational classic Sesame Street and Word Girl.
As the organization writes, “The most powerful ways to develop children’s literacy skills are also the simplest: talk to them, listen to them, read to them and write with them.”
Scholastic
Publishing house and youth education resource Scholastic fosters greater at-home reading through online resources and reading opportunities, as well as its Raise a Reader blog for caregivers.
Scholastic Parents
Scholastic’s Parents website, a quick stop offering suggested readings and tips for growing young readers, publishes online read-aloud guides for caregivers, reading resources and tips, and printable activities.
Storyvoice app
Storyvoice is Scholastic’s live read-along app for grades K-5, which brings together popular children’s books authors and illustrators, reading advocates, and kids themselves to read aloud, dance, and enjoy popular stories. Each week, families can tune in to hear a live reading, interact with the day’s host, and watch the previous session’s recordings.
The free app is available for desktop viewing and is downloadable on the App Store and Google Play.
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Reading Is Fundamental
Reading is Fundamental is a nonprofit literacy organization that runs several programs and grant partnerships with the goal of fostering greater reading at home, in classrooms, and in communities.
On the Reading is Fundamental website, you can find free printable reading passages, author interviews, searchable book lists, and a library of read-aloud videos. The site also runs a calendar, “Daily Book Bites,” which recommends a different book each day of the week, and shares tools like reading incentive charts and literacy trackers.
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Each month, the organization selects a specific reading theme and hosts a live read-along event, accompanied by additional reading resources like book activities, games, and recommendations.
Storyline Online
Storyline Online was created by the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) Foundation and features dozens of read-along videos hosted by celebrities and creatives. Its read-along video library is cited by other literacy groups, like LitWorld, and the organization accompanies each video with supplemental curriculum support developed by elementary educators. The goal of Storyline Online’s videos is to encourage and strengthen reading comprehension and verbal and written skills for English-language learners, the site explains.
Check out videos like actor Kiernan Shipka reading The House That Jane Built or Emmy-winner Sheryl Lee Ralph reading Jabari Jumps.
Bookmarks
If you have a Netflix subscription, consider popping on its original show Bookmarks for an easy read-aloud activity with your kids. The show, which premiered in 2020, was created as both an educational and empathy-building exercise, focused on stories that spark kid-friendly discussion of equality and anti-racism. Each of the 12 episodes features a well-known Black celebrity reading a children’s book written by a Black author, like Lupita Nyong’o reading her own book, Sulwe.
Vooks
Credit: Vooks
Vooks turns children’s books into interactive read-along videos featuring engaging animations, music, and voiceovers to encourage ad-free viewing and a 20-minutes-each-day literacy plan for kids, parents, and even teachers. The website offers a selection of free videos, as well as subscription plans to unlock more content. Teachers can sign up for free to access a full range of Vooks read-alongs.
Find additional resources, like writing routines, classroom resources, and printable activity sheets, on the Vooks website.
YouTube reading channels
YouTube is full of free read-along accounts that post an array of books shared by a community of online readers.
Black Dad Reading
The Black Dad Reading channel is hosted by “Mr. Calloway” and was created in part to show a positive male figure for young viewers. The page describes itself as wanting to share diverse stories with readers of all levels.
Dixy’s Storytime World
This brightly-colored channel posts daily read-aloud videos of children’s books, complete with calming narration and original illustrations. The videos are intended to feel like part of a nightly bedtime routine and veer away from 3D animations and loud noises.
Reading Is
Another narration-based YouTube channel, Reading Is posts weekly animated read-aloud videos of popular and classic children’s books, like Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and The Kissing Hand.
The Gracie Series
Based on The Gracie Series by Dr. Grace LaJoy Henderson, this channel shares free audiobook and read-aloud versions of the autobiographical children’s stories, in an effort to foster a “love of reading and learning in preschool and elementary students.” Each video is accompanied by discussion questions for viewers following along.
Source : Online resources make International Read to Me Day fun and meaningful for families
